Is This Really Necessary?
Have you ever asked that question concerning a struggle, a difficulty or when you are experiencing deep, emotional pain? We all do because we are not designed to live with pain on any level, whether physical or emotional. I believe one reason why we experience these things is that we live in a fallen body, in a fallen world, surrounded by fallen people. However, I believe there is an even a greater reason for why we suffer. It is to expose our (desperate) need to depend on God. Especially when it comes to pain, because if we don’t see our need then we will miss out on how God will use it to accomplish a deeper work of freedom, healing or transformation in our lives.
Since we are not designed to live in pain, pain must be dealt with one way or the other. The only human solution for pain is “coping.” We can cope by just getting through the pain, hoping it will not go on forever or we can cope with it through such things as pornography, alcohol, drugs, TV, work, etc. However, in my own life I realize that coping never resolved anything. Instead of realizing my struggle was necessary for God to accomplish His work in me, I kept “kicking the can” of my pain down the road preventing Him from working His purposes through it. This is the way I lived for 48 years.
Do I like pain? Of course, not. I try to avoid it all costs. However, when I finally realized and believed how God was using my pain to set me free, heal my past woundedness and transform me into Christ-likeness, I finally realized that my pain was and is necessary. The truth is that I would not be where I am spiritually without it. If you don’t believe me, please read this story.
There was a guy who came to several of my classes who I thought was saved. After coming to a number of the classes, he missed several classes in a row. My assumption was that he was never coming back. However, several weeks later he showed up in class. Normally he never said anything but when I asked if anyone had anything to share, his hand shot up into the air. He then stood up and shared through tears that he had missed several classes because his wife’s cancer had gotten to a point where he needed to stay home with her full time. He then shared the very sad news that she had passed. He went on to say, “Without her dying, I never would have come to know Jesus as my Savior. She had been sharing the gospel with me for years but I resisted. However, when she died, I saw my need for Jesus and received Him as my Savior. Through her death, I received Life.” All of us in that room were stunned by this man’s amazing testimony because it took the death of his wife for him to find Jesus. Since then, he and I have become good friends and to this day, he is a passionate follower of Jesus.
So, is there a purpose in your pain, your struggle, your heartache? My answer is a resounding “YES.” Because if we see our need and turn to Jesus, He will meet that need as our Savior, our Life, our healer or our transformer.
